Approaching the end of the first term of Wicomico County's executive form of government, a few comments follow. This observer served two terms on the County Council and was a member of all Charter Review Commissions.
The first executive retained virtually all personnel and programs of the past. With a few major snags, harmony has been the big priority.
The legislative (council) branch is another story. Starting with a staff of one, it seemed not to appreciate that the powers given it by the new charter were essential to separation of powers, and checks and balances. After a fatal effort to hire an administrator, council members settled on one grounded in ways of the old charter.
Council efforts to empower itself have been largely futile. Two essential tools have been missing:
It has failed to recruit an internal auditor for needed checks and balances for its fiscal responsibility.
Another missing tool is its failure to retain an attorney for those rare instances when the county attorney (a department head appointed by the executive) offers the council debatable advice.
The county charter provides a strong executive, but the council needs to arm itself. The Charter Review Commission limited the executive to two terms; unfortunately, this provision was deleted by the old council in the copy presented to the voters.
I hope the coming campaigns will focus heavily on these issues.
Kenneth T. Matthews
Source
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19 comments:
Perhaps I am missing something.The charter provides for a "strong" executive form of government. The writer seems to endorse that ...then goes on to say that the current Executive has really made no essential change and has made his suoerordinate priority "harmony". The writer then does not take the Executive to task for that performance.
Harmony does not pay the county bills.Getting along does not and did not prepare us for the fiscal crisis that was looming and was predicted in 2002 in the wake of the revenue cap vote.
So while we have a "harmonious" executive we certainly do not have a "strong" executive.
The writer then seems to find ample fault with a county council that ,perhaps,has been frustrated by the lack of Executive leadership and trying to fill that void.
I have always liked Ken Matthews.
The inability to fill the auditor position is primarily due to the at-will provision since it provides the part-time council (who all have jobs that may interact with auditable functions)with the 'pink-slip' hammer over the auditor. If the council was not allowed to dismiss the auditor except 'for-cause', you might get some independence back.
Mr. Matthews caused much of our present problem by resisting tax increases until a massive one became needed and resulted in the tax cap and county exec. I believe that he also promoted the position of "public information officer" which is a total waste of taxpayer money.
9:57 Mr. Matthews letter is far more clear than your post. The Charter allows the Council to cut any expenditure proposed by the Executive, so your attempt to paint Rick as a big spender and the Council as "frustrated" does not hold water - the Council controls the pursestrings.
Mr. Matthew's point is that the Council is not utilizing its tools to make sure that they are a co-equal branch of government that is doing its homework to watch the budget and expenditures.
I would also differ on your thought that Rick is not a strong executive. In my observation, he is executing the office to a high standard based upon the policies he believes are best. He refuses to get blown around by the political winds. If you disagree with his policies, fine, but that does not make him a weak executive. I suggest you vote for someone else or run yourself if you think he is not the right person for the job.
How true. Time for change and it is just around the corner. Rick has his issues no one can deny that. It just seems the council is that "Not me" machine. Do they ever accept responsibility for anything. In past months I have watched them all point the finger at one another. Rick points at the council. Ed Baker does what the hell he wants and then really does not have the balls to point the finger or speak up. He is USELESS.
On the Baker issue what in the hell did they do with his retirement. I know they made him a one man department LOL !!! So why will no one on the council or in Pollitt's Office talk about what deal was made when placing Baker in the County Retirement. How many back years where given to man that worked for multiple juridictions while on our dime. Oh he was paid by ohter jurisdictions as well. He is one slick weasel but then again he is a lawyer.
One thing we all know is that if they will not talk about it. NO ONE wants to be tied to it. Lets face it folks when a politician does something good they holler from the top of the court house steps. When they f/up they turtle up. They pull thier head in the shell and wait out the storm. So they did do one thing together. Pay a man for something he may or may not deserve.
One thing Baker did do was ensure the Deputies would not have the same good fortune he did. Mr. Baker do you live in the county ? These are the men and women willing to risk all for you and your family. You should be ashamed. Again you are a lawyer you have no shame.
So as November looms ever closer think hard before casting that vote. I know I will. I will not cast a vote for anyone who voted to reward an attorney for being a weasel. Nor will I vote for anyone that kept employees on the payroll that stole from the tax payers of this county i.e. all the landfill workers still working that were part of the scheme. There was not enough for crimnal charges but they sure admitted to stealing thousands and the Council and Slick Rick kept them on board ?
You did furlough and cut positions. Yet you keep crooks on the payroll. I guess Slick Rick and the Seven Dwarfs think we are just smart enough to pay taxes and keep our mouths shut ??
The Wicomican
You won't recruit an internal auditor of an y competence. The work is out in that area of expertise. The auditor that was fired was actually doing what needed to be done. Sadly, the individuals that let her go, hadn't a clue what needed to be done to further the efforts of this position. Meanwhile the Wicomico County Finance department is a complete disgrace, Just read the last two year's audot reports.
12:02...I did not paint Pollitt as a big spender. I painted him as a man who did not prepare for the impending fiscal crisis. If you can point to where he did that please do so.
Please also point out any other examples of true leadership. Harmony is a weak priority objective when faced with crisis.
As for the upcoming election you can be assured that I and many others will vote for a candidate who demonstrates the ability to lead...not just get along.
The problem in Wicomico County is the poor decisions its citizenry makes. You've complained about about big government, then turned around and added another layer of government. The residents have helped to increase cost, by bloating government; you've also helped to increase bureaucracy, while crying that government is too bureaucratic. You are an example of people who cannot manage themselves.
County Council applauds itself by uncover expensive pens that were given to county volunteers, while at the landfill, hundreds of thousands of dollars were being stolen. Why haven't the people of the county fired the entire county council, who now only serves as people that ask stupid questions, talk about what they did during the last two week, prior to council meetings and give announcements to the public. Come on people wake up. You are the problem. You are government.
Mr. Matthews has the knowledge of what was intended by the new form of gov't however, it just hasn't happened. If Mr. Pollitt is challenged by a legitimate candidate then he will be defeated. Main reason is that he hasn't changed what needed changing and why the people elected to have a new form of gov't. The council continually thinks their power has been snatched but they have refused to protect their power by filling the slots provided by the charter to give them the power.
keep up the good work wicomico you make us Good Ole Boys look better and better. SEE YA'LL!
12:39 Who do you think is going to run when you say "As for the upcoming election you can be assured that I and many others will vote for a candidate who demonstrates the ability to lead...not just get along."?
I doubt there will be any credible candidate run against Rick. Joe Holloway sure is not going to do it. Why? He knows he cannot win. Any he is correct.
I'm sure you will have some self-proclaimed tea party candidate running, after all, that Executive salary looks pretty good. But when push comes to shove, it will be a landslide. You know it, I know it, and everyone knows it.
Rick has the support of the vast majority of us who are not political extremist. Get over it.
I don't know how Baker got into this discussion but since someone brought it up, you need to get your facts straight before you crucify the entire seven drawfs. I looked it up and you should too.
As for Mr. Matthews: he served on the county council for 8 years. What did he do in those 8 years? In my opinion--nothing!Sure, he is a nice guy and maybe that was the problem with him.
Now on to Pollitt: No leadership, no involvement, no backbone. I think that says it all. And talk about playing politics-- He is at the head of the line when it comes to that. Ask those in Fruitland.
The Council: A few of the members are there for the people, a few are there for self interest and a few are there for their ego's. Pay attention and you figure who's who on the council. It's pretty clear.
So stop with all this and stop giving our entire government a bad name. It just makes you look stupid.
3:19....keep drinking that koolaid
The County had a very good internal auditor; however, they felt she was unsuitable for the job because she didn't step to their orders. If I were the external auditors the first place I would look for is collusion between a County Council member and a County employee.
4:13 apparently 7 out of 7 council members disagree with you
Anon 3:33 PM,
Which of the 7 dwarves are you?
Has Wicomico County reduced their debt yet? Rick better get busy, it's hard to find 21 million overnight and time is running out.
Thanks to Matthews, Wicomico County has a PIO -- first George Roach and now Fineran, Pollitt's flunky -- at a total cost that probably exceeds half a million in salary and benefits. And for a couple years after Roach was canned, the position was vacent, proving that it is not needed.
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